When registering as a voter for European Parliament elections, you will also have to declare that you will only vote once at the same elections.

Conditions to vote

As an EU national, you will be voting under the same conditions as nationals of the country where you live. If nationals are required to have been living in the country for a certain period to be allowed to vote, it will be the same for you.

However, the periods that you have spent in other EU countries - other than your home country - should be taken into account.

Special rules can apply in EU countries where non-nationals make up more than 20 % of the total electorate; in such cases, the host country can require an additional period of residence before you can participate in European Parliament elections. Today the only such country is Luxembourg.

Compulsory voting

If voting in European Parliament elections is compulsory in your host country and, following your registration, you were put on the electoral roll of that country, you are obliged to vote - just as the nationals of that country are.

Voting is compulsory in these EU countries: Belgium, Cyprus, Greece and Luxembourg.

Standing as a candidate

When standing in European Parliament elections, you will be required to make a declaration that you are not disqualified from standing, and that you are not standing in any other EU country.

In a European Parliament election, you can only vote and stand as a candidate in one country.

If you opt to vote or to stand as a candidate in the country where you live, you cannot do the same in your home country.

Conditions to stand as a candidate

As an EU national, you can stand as a candidate under the same conditions that apply to nationals of the country where you live. If nationals are required to have been living in the country for a certain period to be allowed to stand in EU elections, it will be the same for you.

However, the periods that you have spent in other EU countries - other than your home country - should be taken into account.

Special rules can apply in EU countries where non-nationals make up more than 20 % of the total electorate; in such cases, the host country can require an additional period of residence before you can stand as a candidate in European Parliament elections. Today the only such country is Luxembourg.